Heponiemi's Heroics Lift Checkers To 2-1 Overtime Win

Details
The Checkers rallied in Utica and pulled off a huge 2-1 win thanks to Aleksi Heponiemi’s overtime heroics.

After trailing 1-0 since midway through the first, the Checkers finally found the equalizer on a man advantage in the early stages of the third. Grigori Denisenko unloaded a one-timer from the point that beat Utica netminder Issac Poulter and drew the contest into a tie - a score that would hold until the end of regulation.

SCORE SHEET
Overtime didn’t last long, as the Checkers swung an odd-man rush up the ice just 18 seconds in and Aleksi Heponiemi finished off a passing play from Lucas Carlsson to snag a critical two points on the road for Charlotte.



Making his third straight appearance, J-F Berube played a key role in Charlotte’s victory - making 22 saves to stymie the Utica attack and pick up his fourth win in his last four starts.

NOTES

The Checkers are 7-3 in games ending in overtime this season, tying them for the most overtime wins in the AHL … Grigori Denisenko scored in his first game back in the AHL since Feb. 11 … Lucas Carlsson extended his point streak to four games, and he has six points over that stretch … Riley Nash has points in five straight games … The Checkers finished their season series against Utica with a 3-0-1-0 mark … The Checkers are 11-2-1-0 on the road since Christmas … Logan Hutsko, Cory Conacher, Connor Bunnaman, Cam Morrison, Xavier Cormier and Zac Dalpe were the scratches for Charlotte